Top Cubs prospect misses Friday's game after fouling a ball off his foot

Let's start with the good news.

After being hit in the elbow on August 5 in the Iowa Cubs' game against the St. Paul Saints,Owen Caissie was pulled and sat out the subsequent game on August 6. Thankfully, he returned to action on Thursday as a pinch runner in the ninth inning.

Unfortunately, the guy he pinch ran for is another Cubs top prospect, Moises Ballesteros, who left the game after fouling a ball off his foot.

The latest report is that Ballesteros is dealing with a swollen ankle, and likely will sit out of tonight's game against the Saints. It's unlikely to keep him out for an extended period, though the team will have to wait to see how his body reacts to baseball activities after his brief rest period.

Owen Caissie, Moises Ballesteros need to be rested for Cubs' stretch run

Thankfully, it appears the Cubs have dodged a few bullets in regards to the injuries to Caissie and Ballesteros. Neither seems destined for a trip to the injured list.

However, given that neither top prospect was traded at the deadline—despite incessant reports that they would be—they currently serve as the top depth options in Triple-A Iowa should anything happen to one of the players on the major league roster.

Though there are ways to add to the roster following the trade deadline, no method offers a chance to add a true impact player anymore. The Cubs' roster is largely set for the stretch run, and that makes the health of Caissie and Ballesteros, two of just four position players in Triple-A currently on the 40-man roster, all the more important.

Knock on wood, the team will continue to get healthier, but should anything happen to one of the outfielders in Chicago, you can bet one of Caissie or Kevin Alcantara will be the guy called up to replace them on the roster. And, should the Cubs need a bat-first option on the bench (perhaps when rosters expand in September), you can be sure that it'll be Ballesteros getting the call.

Caissie is having a huge season in Iowa, entering the weekend slashing .281/.381/.557 with 20 home runs and a 12.9 percent walk rate, good for a 137 wRC+. He is among the best position player prospects in baseball and should get a chance to make his debut with the Cubs at some point in the next two months.

Ballesteros, meanwhile, has already had a few turns with the Cubs this season. In just 20 plate appearances at the MLB level, he has already knocked in six runs. He's only slashing .222/.300/.278 (69 wRC+), though small sample size caveats apply. In Iowa, he's hitting a far more robust .332/.394/.499, good for a 129 wRC+.